Wayne, NJ (11/30/05) – Junior guard Luci Custis finished with a game-high 18 points along with seven rebounds and four steals while leading four William Paterson players in double figures as the Pioneers used a big first-half run to take control before holding off backyard and New Jersey Athletic Conference rival Montclair State, 74-63, Wednesday evening at the William Paterson Rec Center.

Freshman guard MEGHAN KELLEY led the Red Hawks (2-2, 0-2 NJAC) by scoring 10 of her 15 points in the second half, while junior forward STEPHANIE MACHIN added 13 and eight rebounds for the Red Hawks (2-3, 1-1 NJAC).

William Paterson took control of the game with a 24-8 first-half run as Pellichero buried a pair of 3-pointers and sophomore guard Lori Custis contributed four points and three steals. The Pioneers led 46-28 after Moore converted a pair of free throws with 13:41 remaining before Montclair State, freshman guard MARIANNE MCGOVERN scored five points during a 10-2 burst that pulled the Red Hawks within 48-38 with 10:58 left

.However, Montclair State never got any closer than eight points the rest of the way, getting within 60-52 on a Kelly jumper with 2:32 remaining. From there, Michelle Pellichero iced the game at the charity stripe.

Montclair State will look to get back on the winning track as it travels to Newark, NJ to take on NJAC rival Rutgers-Newark on Saturday, December 3 at 5:30 pm.